Proper Channels and International Law: Greenland’s Diplomatic Demands

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has made adherence to “proper channels” and “respect for international law” the non-negotiable conditions for any dialogue with the United States regarding the territory’s future. This emphasis on established diplomatic and legal frameworks represents Greenland’s attempt to anchor the controversy in rules-based international order while resisting President Trump’s aggressive public pressure campaign.
Nielsen stated explicitly: “We are open to dialogue. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.” This formulation acknowledges willingness to discuss Greenland’s relationship with the United States while firmly rejecting Trump’s approach of public threats, social media pressure, and veiled military intimidation. Nielsen’s insistence on proper channels implicitly criticizes Trump’s tendency to conduct diplomacy through public statements and social media rather than established diplomatic mechanisms.
The emphasis on international law carries particular significance given Trump’s recent military intervention in Venezuela, where American forces seized President Nicolas Maduro despite the obvious violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international legal norms. This aggressive precedent has heightened concerns that Trump might disregard legal frameworks in pursuing his Greenland ambitions, making Nielsen’s insistence on legal compliance an essential defensive position.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reinforced Nielsen’s stance by warning that any US military action against Greenland would completely destroy NATO and eighty years of transatlantic security cooperation. Her unprecedented ultimatum underscores that both Denmark and Greenland view international law and alliance frameworks as critical protections against Trump’s territorial designs. These legal and diplomatic structures represent Greenland’s primary defense against American pressure.
European nations have supported Greenland and Denmark’s emphasis on legal frameworks and proper procedures. The European Union, Britain, France, and Nordic countries all issued statements affirming territorial integrity and declaring that only Greenland and Denmark possess authority over the territory’s future. The crisis escalated when Katie Miller, wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, posted imagery depicting Greenland in American flag colors, which Nielsen condemned as disrespectful to diplomatic norms. Trump’s justification citing Chinese and Russian naval threats was rejected by Beijing and disputed by Greenland’s representative as fabrications.